Herpaintedbunting's Blog

His Presence and His Promises

Posted on July 17, 2012

I will never forget the first time I found peace and solace in Psalm 125.

Those who trust in the Lord

Are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever.

As the mountains surround Jerusalem,

So the Lord surrounds His people

From this time forth and forever. Psalm 125:1-2

I was living in Washington DC at the time. I was riding the metro with my friend, Stan. As we rode the metro late at night, with all the lights flashing and tunnels. Then we got off at one of the stops — I can still hear the recorded station names in my head, “Georgetownnnn. Next stop!” And, “Alexandriaaaa.” You have to be there in order to feel cadence and intensity of it all. But it was likely in Washington DC that I discovered my love for the city.

After we got off the metro we ascended one of the many two-storied escalators one encounters in DC. That was my first experience of being able to see the moon, and nothing more. The moon hung in the stairwell of the escalator, just for me. It glowed and that’s all I could see. There is a sweet worship chorus that goes with Psalm 125, and I had learned it that Summer, probably from Stan. I recall he played guitar — I was always falling for the guitar players. <Sigh>

But, I digress! The moon! There was the moon!

There was a palpable feeling of peace, and the sense that all is well with the world. I felt it that night. I felt secure and able to rest. I realize now it was the Presence of God that I’d felt. There was a sense that He completely surrounded me, and that I could lean into Him. How many times He’s proven that to be true. When I am distressed or wound a little too tightly I’ll often go back to Psalm 125. I’ll sing the chorus, and walk my way back to the peace that I felt in that short and sweet moment.

When I lean into Him, I cannot be moved from the position of His Presence and the goodness of His Promises.

Ciao!